March 1998 Southern NZ Ex-tropical Cyclone Yali
(
1998-03-28
)

Ex-tropical cyclone Yali brought high winds, heavy rain, high seas and some flooding to all regions in the South Island as well as Wellington. One person was drowned in the sea in Taranaki.

New Zealand

Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand

Duration:
2
days -
From the 28th till the 29th of March.

A deep depression, former tropical cyclone "Yali", moved from the Tasman Sea across the South Island, deepening rapidly. On the 28th, Yali accelerated southeast over the central Tasman, entrained in the northwesterly "steering" flow ahead of an approaching trough over Tasmania.

The storm's main impact was gale force winds, with heavy rain a less important factor.

Due to Yali's fast movement, the worst of the gales and heavy rain was confined to a period of less than 12 hours.

North Island

Heavy Rain
at
North Island

The Tararuas recorded rainfall totals exceeding 100 mm (10 cm).

South Island

Maritime / Coastal
at
South Island

Four Lynx ferry sailings were cancelled.

High Wind / Gust

Trees blown over by gales closed a major route between Nelson and Picton.

Taranaki

Maritime / Coastal
at
New Plymouth

Near New Plymouth, a youth was washed into the sea and drowned.

Wellington

High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington

Northerly gales lifted house roofs.

Power was cut in some places.

A car was hit by a flying billboard, trees were felled and windows were blown in.

High Wind / Gust
at
Castlepoint

Castlepoint recorded a peak wind gust of 156 km/hr.

High Wind / Gust
at
Hataitai

The wind blew roofing off Badminton Hall.

High Wind / Gust
at
Mt Kaukau

Mt Kaukau recorded a peak wind gust of 165 km/hr.

Mt Kaukau recorded an average wind speed of 130 km/hr.

Flooding
at
Paraparaumu

In Paraparaumu house basements were flooded after a sudden deluge of rain.

High Wind / Gust
at
Seatoun

Beacon Hill, Seatoun, recorded a peak wind gust of 139 km/hr.

Flooding
at
Waikanae

In Waikanae house basements were flooded after a sudden deluge of rain.

High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington International Airport

The high winds disrupted flights at Wellington Airport. Some aircraft were diverted from a dangerous landing in the airport and flights out of Wellington were delayed on the 29th.

Marlborough

High Wind / Gust
at
Marlborough

Power cuts caused by fallen power lines occurred in Marlborough.

High Wind / Gust
at
Raupara

Rapaura Road was closed after trees were blown over by the winds.

Tasman-Nelson

Heavy Rain
at
Tasman-Nelson

Northwest Nelson recorded rainfall totals exceeding 100 mm (10 cm).

High Wind / Gust

Power cuts caused by fallen power lines occurred in Nelson.

Maritime / Coastal
at
Ruby Bay

Rough seas and a high tide caused sea flooding at Ruby Bay.

West Coast

High Wind / Gust
at
West Coast

Power cuts caused by fallen power lines occurred along the West Coast.

Heavy Rain

The West Coast recorded rainfall totals exceeding 100 mm (10 cm).

Heavy Rain
at
Cropp River

Cropp recorded 267 mm (26.7 cm) of rain - the heaviest rainfall for this event.

High Wind / Gust
at
Hokitika

Hokitika recorded an average wind speed of 65 km/hr - only the second gale averaging 34 knots (63 km/hr) or more in six years.

Hokitika recorded a peak gust of 102 km/hr.

Maritime / Coastal
at
Westport

Westport suffered sea flooding.

Canterbury

Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury

Many inland roads became treacherous for driving.

High Wind / Gust
at
Banks Peninsula

Power cuts caused by fallen power lines occurred in Banks Peninsula.

High Wind / Gust
at
Christchurch

Power cuts caused by fallen power lines occurred in Christchurch.

High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Cook Aerodrome

Mt Cook Aerodrome recorded a wind gust of 156 km/hr.

Otago

Maritime / Coastal
at
Dunedin

The winds whipped up sea waves, which damaged the esplanade in Dunedin.

Southland

Multi Hazard
at
Southland

Southland was hit by severe winds and driving rain on the 29th.

High Wind / Gust

Power was cut to some areas.

Some roofs were lifted.

Winds averaged between 67 km/hr and 80 km/hr on the afternoon of the 29th, but eased to between 40 km/hr and 55 km/hr by the evening.

Flooding

There was minor flooding in places.

Rivers through the region were high but not extreme.

Heavy Rain

31 mm (3.1 cm) of rain fell in 13 hours from 3am to 11am on the 29th.

Maritime / Coastal
at
Bluff

On the 29th, the sea level at Bluff was 1.65 m above mean sea level.

High Wind / Gust
at
Gorge Road

Power was lost in Gorge Road at about 1:15pm after trees fell on to power lines.

Multi Hazard
at
Invercargill

Waters threatened to top the estuary stopbank, being level with the top of the stopbank at about 3pm. The high water level was caused by a combination of a high spring tide, wind and rain.

Maritime / Coastal

Paddocks on one farm were flooded as water spilled over low areas of the stopbank and water also gushed through a shed on the stopbank.

On the 29th, the Invercargill estuary at the Stead Street Bridge recorded a level of 2.51 m above mean sea level. This was the highest level recorded between 1992 and 2002 and was within 0.06 m of the record level. This had an annual return period of 11.2 years.

High Wind / Gust

Invercargill recorded a peak gust of 111 km/hr on the 29th.

High Wind / Gust
at
Kennington

Power was lost in Kennington at about 1:15pm after trees fell on to power lines.

High Wind / Gust
at
Te Peka

Power was lost in Te Peku at about 1:15pm after trees fell on to power lines.

High Wind / Gust
at
Waituna

Power was lost in Waituna at about 1:15pm after trees fell on to power lines.